Knapp, Jacob C. "Chick"

1886-1961 | Electrician, Alaskan Engineering Commission

Jacob Clay "Chick" Knapp was born in Mystic, Iowa on May 13, 1886, the third of five children of Alvin and Prudence Knapp. His father was a farmer. He grew up on the family farm in Walnut, Appanoose County, Iowa.[1]

As a young man, Knapp left his native state to find a future in the west. He worked in the coal mines in Montana for a number of years, and there he met Edith A. Griffin. She was born in Angus, Iowa, on February 20, 1886, the daughter of George and Catherine Griffin. They were married on December 24, 1905 in Bozeman, Montana.[2] Knapp soon tired of the coal mining business, and he and Edith moved to Prince Rupert, British Columbia, where he obtained work in the shipyards.

Knapp had heard much about the opportunities in Alaska, and so he decided to head north. He sent Edith back to Montana, with the promise that he would send for her as soon as he got established. He first stopped in Juneau, but found nothing of interest there. He proceeded to Anchorage in late 1920, and landed a job with the Alaskan Engineering Commission (AEC), the federal agency in charge of construction of the Alaska Railroad.

Knapp was able to establish permanent employment with the AEC in 1921 as an electrician, and sent for Edith to join him. They first lived at 109 4th Avenue and later bought a log cabin at 8th Avenue and L Street, in Anchorage. After twenty years with the Alaska Railroad, he transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Richardson in 1941 and remained there until he retired in 1949. He was a life member of the Anchorage Elks Lodge and a member of the Anchorage Masonic Lodge.

The Knapps' first son, John F. "Jack," was born in 1924 and second son, Jacob C. "Jake," was born in 1926. Edith kept busy as a housewife and mother of the two boys. She was active with the Pioneers of Alaska and the Eastern Star. Both sons followed in their father's footsteps and worked for the Alaska Railroad. Jack and his wife, who moved to the state of Washington, had no children. Jacob C., Jr. married Mildred Snyder and they had three children; Eric R., Amy C., and Edith Ann.[3]

Edith Knapp died on July 23, 1957 in Josephine, Oregon, and is buried in Angelus Memorial Park in Anchorage.[4] Jacob, Knapp, Sr. died in Grants Pass, Oregon on September 19, 1960, after suffering a heart attack.[5] He is buried in Grants Pass, Oregon.

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Jacob C. Knapp (1886-1960).

Courtesy of the Knapp family.

Edith Griffin Knapp (1886-1957).

Courtesy of the Knapp family.

Jacob, Sr. with sons Jacob C. Knapp, Jr., born in 1926 and John F. "Jack," born in 1924.

Courtesy of the Knapp family.

Jacob Knapp Sr. and Edith at 737 L Street, Anchorage, ca. 1940.

Courtesy of the Knapp family.

Jacob C. Knapp Jr. (1926-2011).

Courtesey of the Knapp family.

John F. "Jack" Knapp (1924-2009).

Courtesy of the Knapp family.

The Knapp family home at 8th Avenue and L Street, Anchorage, ca. 1940.